The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Minister of Tourism says he remains optimistic over the future of Grand Bahama’s tourism sector, while acknowledging that the island needs more than just hotels for the industry to rebound.

Speaking with Tribune Business, Obie Wilchcombe said Grand Bahama was in the process of being re-branded after Hurricane Matthew removed 1,500 rooms from the island’s hotel inventory, with Memories now totally closed. At the Grand Lucayan, just 200 rooms are open at the Lighthouse Point section, with Breaker’s Cay also entirely closed following the Category Four storm.

Those closures have not only negatively impacted stopover tourist arrivals and employment, but also the wider Grand Bahama tourism economy, especially overnighting cruise passengers and businesses at the Port Lucaya Marketplace.

Hurricane Matthew also arrived amid efforts by Hutchison Whampoa’s property arm, Cheung Kong Property Holdings, and its HVS Capital Corporation adviser, to sell the Grand Lucayan.

Mr Wilchcombe said of the sales process: “Negotiations are going well. The Prime Minister’s Office has been engaged in dialogue back and forth with China, with Hutchison Whampoa, the owners of the property in Grand Bahama, but I’m very optimistic.”

Earlier this month, while addressing the Grand Bahama Business Outlook conference, Prime Minister Perry Christie said he had held talks with the preferred buyer for the Grand Lucayan resort complex, describing the discussions as “very positive” after it improved its offer to Hutchison Whampoa.

Mr Christie did not name the ‘preferred buyer, but this is likely to be the Wynn Group, a Canadian-based real estate developer, which has also been interested in constructing a $65 million condominium complex at Goodman’s Bay in New Providence

“I think we are going to be able to lay out a very unique and outstanding tourism plan,” Mr Wilchcombe said. “New Providence, Abaco and Bimini are moving and doing quite well.

“We have to get Grand Bahama moving. Grand Bahama doesn’t need just a simple hotel. It needs a tourism plan. We are re-branding Grand Bahama. Some new brands are coming to Grand Bahama. It’s going to be the future and I feel good about the future.”